Zimmer admitted over the weekend that he thought briefly about not going to the second interview with the Vikings, after he was beaten down by repeated rejection, including from the Tennessee Titans.

"It's probably been a blessing in disguise that I didn't get this job or that job," Zimmer told reporters. "This was the one that was right for me. Sometimes, that's just how it is: Things don't work out for whatever reason, but you get in the right situation, and it just happens to fall into place."

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Zimmer was hired as the Vikings coach in January. Since then he has said repeatedly that he felt the fit with the Vikings was right.

According to the Pioneer Press, there was a reason Zimmer decided to share his feelings.

"Since the day I walked in, I don't think there could have been a better situation for me," Zimmer said. "I think what it demonstrates, though, is you've got to keep preserving all the time, no matter how despondent you get at certain times."

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Zimmer has long waited for his first opportunity to be an NFL head coach. He will celebrate his 58th birthday Thursday and is already older than Bud Grant was when he retired the first time, after the 1983 season.

So far his decision to go to that second interview has worked, but he won't coach his first game with the Vikings for a few months yet.